Edge-protected belting

Abstract

Belts used in agricultural applications and particularly in round, hay balers have inherent problems created by their usual process of manufacture. This process involves cutting a large processed sheet of elastomeric into relatively narrow strips which form the core of the belts. The belt disclosed herein utilizes a wrap of fabric affixed around each longitudinal edge of the belt core. This wrapped belt core is then further processed to create belts with improved longevity and performance characteristics.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Belting which comprises: an elastomeric belt core having two opposing surfaces and two opposing longitudinal edges; and   buttressing end caps extending along each of said longitudinal edges and across a portion of each of said opposing surfaces to define two opposed buttressed regions of the belting and a center region of the belting between said buttressed regions, said buttressed regions having a given modulus of elasticity and said center region having a given modulus of elasticity, said modulus of elasticity of said buttressed regions being greater than said modulus of elasticity of said center region.   
     
     
       2. Belting as defined in claim 1 wherein the belt core comprises at least one ply of a fabric. 
     
     
       3. Belting as defined in claim 1 wherein the buttressing end caps comprise fabric strips. 
     
     
       4. Belting as defined in claim 3 which further comprises an adhesive, said adhesive bonding said fabric strips to said belt core. 
     
     
       5. Belting as defined in claim 3 further comprising an elastomer covering said buttressing end caps and said belt core. 
     
     
       6. Belting as defined in claim 5 which further comprises adhesive, said adhesive bonding said fabric strips to said belt core. 
     
     
       7. Belting as defined in claim 1 wherein said buttressing end caps comprise elastomeric caps having a first hardness. 
     
     
       8. Belting as defined in claim 7 further comprising elastomeric outer skims having a second hardness that is less than said first hardness of said elastomeric caps, said outer skims covering each opposing surface of said belt core between said buttressing end caps. 
     
     
       9. Belting as defined in claim 8 wherein the belt core comprises at least one ply of a fabric. 
     
     
       10. Belting as defined in claim 3 wherein said buttressing end caps further comprise elastomeric caps having a first hardness and being disposed over said fabric strip. 
     
     
       11. Belting as defined in claim 10 which further comprises an adhesive, said adhesive bonding the fabric strips to said belt core. 
     
     
       12. Belting as defined in claim 10 further comprising outer elastomeric skims having a second hardness that is less than said first hardness of said elastomeric caps, said outer skims covering each opposing surface of said belt core between said elastomeric caps. 
     
     
       13. Belting as defined in claim 12 wherein said belt core comprises at least one ply of a fabric. 
     
     
       14. Belting which comprises: an elastomeric belt core having two opposing surfaces and two opposing longitudinal edges;   fabric extending along the longitudinal edges and laterally over an edge portion of each of said opposing surfaces;   elastomeric caps extending along the longitudinal edges of said belt core and covering said fabric and defining longitudinal end regions having a first modulus of elasticity;   elastomeric outer skims extending along and covering each said opposing surface of said belt core, said outer skims and said belt core defining a longitudinal central region having a second modulus of elasticity, said second modulus of elasticity being less than said first modulus of elasticity.   
     
     
       15. Belting as defined in claim 14 which further comprises an adhesive, said adhesive bonding said fabric to said belt core. 
     
     
       16. Belting as defined in claim 15 wherein said belt core comprises at least one ply of fabric. 
     
     
       17. Belting which comprises: an elastomeric belt core having two opposing surfaces and two opposing longitudinal edges, said belt core comprising at least one fabric ply;   a fabric strip bonded to and extending along each respective longitudinal edge and laterally over a portion of each of said opposing surfaces, each of said fabric strips covering up to about 40 percent of each of said opposing surfaces and defining buttressed longitudinal edge regions and a central region; and   an elastomeric cover encapsulating said belt core and said fabric strips, wherein said buttressed longitudinal edge regions have a first modulus of elasticity and said central region has a second modulus of elasticity, said first modulus of elasticity being greater than said second modulus of elasticity.   
     
     
       18. Belting as defined in claim 17 wherein said elastomeric cover comprises a thermoset synthetic rubber. 
     
     
       19. Belting as defined in claim 18 which further comprises a solvated natural rubber adhesive bonding said fabric strips to said opposing surfaces. 
     
     
       20. Belting which comprises: an elastomeric belt core having two opposing surfaces and two opposing longitudinal edges, said belt core being comprised of at least one fabric ply and an elastomeric ply;   a separate fabric strip extending along each respective longitudinal edge and laterally over a first edge portion of each of said opposing surface up to about 40 percent, said fabric strips being adhesively bonded to said core;   a discrete elastomeric cap extending along each respective longitudinal edge of said belt core and covering at least a portion of said respective fabric strip to define an opposing longitudinal belt edge region along each respective longitudinal edge; and   an outer skim covering each of said opposing surface of said belt core between said caps to define a central region disposed between said opposing longitudinal belt edge regions, said longitudinal belt edge regions having a given modulus of elasticity and said central region having a given modulus of elasticity, said modulus of elasticity of said longitudinal belt edge region being greater than said modulus of elasticity of said central region.   
     
     
       21. Belting as defined in claim 20 wherein each said elastomeric cap extends laterally over each said second edge portion of each said opposing surface up to about 30 percent. 
     
     
       22. Belting as defined in claim 20 wherein each of said elastomeric caps has a hardness of about 70 to 80 Shore A, and said outer skims comprise an elastomer having a hardness of about 55 to 70 Shore A. 
     
     
       23. Belting as defined in claim 20, wherein said fabric comprises open weave synthetic fibers. 
     
     
       24. Belting as defined in claim 23 wherein said caps and said skims comprise thermoset synthetic rubber. 
     
     
       25. Belting as defined in claim 24 wherein said elastomeric ply of said belt core comprises thermoset synthetic rubber. 
     
     
       26. Belting as defined in claim 25 which further comprises a solvated natural rubber adhesive bonding said fabric strips to said opposing surfaces. 
     
     
       27. A belt comprising: an elastomeric core having a two opposed surfaces bounded by a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge;   a first inner end cap extending along said first longitudinal edge and having a first hardness;   a second inner end cap extending along said second longitudinal edge and having a second hardness; and   a material disposed between said first end cap and said second end cap on each of said opposed surfaces and having a third hardness, said third hardness being less than said first hardness and being less than said second hardness.   
     
     
       28. The belt, as set forth in claim 27, wherein said material encompasses said first end cap and said second end cap. 
     
     
       29. The belt, as set forth in claim 27, further comprising a first outer end cap and second outer end cap abutting said material and encompassing said first inner end cap and said second inner end cap respectively. 
     
     
       30. A belt comprising: an elastomeric core having a two opposed surfaces bounded by a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge;   a first end cap extending along said first longitudinal edge to form a first buttressed region having a first modulus of elasticity;   a second end cap extending along said second longitudinal edge to form a second buttressed region having a second modulus of elasticity; and   a material encompassing said first buttressed region and said second buttressed region and each of said opposed surfaces to form a center region having a third modulus of elasticity, said third modulus of elasticity being less than said first modulus of elasticity and being less than said second modulus of elasticity.